QUETTA: A policeman assigned to protect a polio vaccination team was shot dead on Tuesday by unknown assailants in Balochistan’s Noshki district, officials confirmed.
Deputy Commissioner Amjad Hussain Soomro said Waheed Ahmed was killed in Killi Muhammad Hassni area. Authorities have established checkpoints across the district to track down and arrest the attackers.
Security for health workers involved in the anti-polio campaign has been increased following the incident. Despite the attack, vaccination teams in Noshki will complete their targets for this national campaign, Soomro added.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind identified the deceased as a resident of Jalalabad, Noshki. He condemned the attack, calling it an intolerable attempt to disrupt the polio drive and spread fear.
President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the killing and extended condolences to the family. He praised the bravery of polio workers and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating polio, urging parents to support vaccination efforts.
“We have the tools, the will, and global backing to end polio,” Zardari said. He called on community leaders, educators, and the media to promote trust in the vaccine and dispel myths. He also lauded the efforts of his daughter, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, in advancing the cause.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and promised strict action against militants targeting the polio campaign. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the assault on the security team safeguarding children’s future as unacceptable.
